Northwest Voices | Letters to the Editor

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CEO Pay 2011

The June 24 Business section focused on the compensation of the highest earners in our state [“Top execs win raises in spite of ‘say on pay,’” Business]. While the information is good, the numbers are always comparing one executive’s compensation to another executive’s. This makes it less relevant to the majority of the population.

The compensation numbers would become more relevant if they were stated in a work-hour depiction, based on a standard work year of 2080 hours. For instance a $10 million-a-year salary translates to $4,878/hour, a $5 million salary would equal $2,404/hr. Compensation could also be illustrated for an eight-hour workday; $10 million a year equals a daily rate of $39,024.

By broadening the basis for comparison, people making the minimum wage or the average family wage would be more able to see where they exist in the marketplace.